We use cookies on your computer or mobile device to help make this website better. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue. Don't show this message again ×

Prestwich Hospital

Type

Hospital

History

Prestwich Hospital was built as a result of the Lunatics Act 1845. A second act passed in the same year made it compulsory for counties to build an asylum for pauper lunatics.
In 1846 the Quarter Session magistrates decided to build the new asylum in the Salford Hundred. A site was purchased at Prestwich Woods from Oswald Milne, a Manchester solicitor in 1847 for the sum of £11,412-4s-5d. It was intended for 500 lunatics or the "morally depraved" as they were known. Century House was the first part that was built.

The newly built asylum received 350 patients at its opening on Jan 1851. But the site was eventually to accommodate over 3000 residents, a number not imagined by Parliament in 1845. Extensive enlargements and re-building had to be made in order to house and maintain patients, staff and artisans.

In 1853 additional provision was made increasing the total accommodated to 500. The first extensive enlargement was finished in 1864. Two wards built to house 564 patients were opened increasing capacity to 1000 places. An annex known as Clifton House was also built in 1883, around 1.2 km away from the main complex. A road ran through the grounds to connect them. It was built as a result of a smallpox outbreak and held 860 female patients.

In December of 1922, Prestwich was renamed the County Mental Hospital and was administered by the Lancashire Asylums Board (later renamed to Mental Hospital Board).

In 1930 the Mental Treatment Act was passed into law. This Act tried a more therapeutic outlook. Patients could apply for voluntary admission. Boards were encouraged to make provision for outpatients and this brought psychiatry into the community and in a small way lessened the stigma of mental illness. Voluntary patients could be received without reception orders, discharge themselves and decide not to accept treatment.

When the National Health Service (NHS) formed in 1948, administration of the hospital passed to Manchester Regional Hospital Board, and then to Salford Mental Health Services in 1974.